Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of fitting for pre-fabricated compression garments via digital imaging of a wearer body part and measurement of body part circumferences and, optionally, lengths therefrom. The present invention also relates to methods of generating a shape description derived from digital imaging of a patient body part or body area of interest and use of such shape description. Such shape description includes geometric information from which measurement information can optionally be derived. Included herein are methods for diagnosing and monitoring edema and other conditions in patients using shape descriptions acquired from a patient in need of such diagnosis and monitoring. The invention also includes use of the generated shape descriptions to make compression garments specifically configured for a patient's body part or body area. Compression garments generated from the generated shape descriptions are also included herein.

Abstract: Compression garment donning aid devices, methods, and kits including a compression garment donning aid with flexible sheets, each of the flexible sheets having: a sheet leg edge having a first sheet leg corner opposite a second sheet leg corner; a mateable sheet leg fastener attached to the first sheet leg corner and the second sheet leg corner; and a sheet waist edge opposite the sheet leg edge, the sheet waist edge having a front sheet waist corner opposite a back sheet waist corner. The donning aid further includes a sheet back fastener attached to the back sheet waist corner of one of the flexible sheets and the back sheet waist corner of the other of the flexible sheets; and a sheet front fastener attached to the front sheet waist corner of one of the flexible sheets and the front sheet waist corner of the other of the flexible sheets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing a piece or apparel. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a piece of apparel comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining body data corresponding to at least one dimension of at least a part of the user's body, (b) obtaining pattern data corresponding to at least one pattern of the piece of apparel to be manufactured, (c) generating, based on the body data and the pattern data, manufacturing data adapted to be processed by a manufacturing machine, and (d) transmitting the manufacturing data to a manufacturing machine. When the manufacturing data is received at the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing data is processed and at least part of the piece of apparel is manufactured.

Abstract: A textile manufactured product made using embroidery machines comprises a base structure made of thread-like and/or ribbon-like elements which are made of at least one first material and also comprises at least one thread-like and/or ribbon-like ornamental element made of at least one second material which is different to the first material in terms of mechanical strength and reflection/refraction of the light; the thread-like and/or ribbon-like ornamental element is connected to said base structure by means of a plurality of knots which are positioned at predetermined intervals along the thread-like and/or ribbon-like elements made of the first material.

Abstract: Stitching patterns overlap to produce a corner-locked stitch pattern. The corner-locked stitch pattern includes one or more thread interlace points, and one or more overlays of threads from overlapping patterns. A network of corner-lock stitch patterns produces a mesh, which may be embroidered into a substrate, such as a medical textile or biotextile. Corner-lock stitch patterns resist puncture-induced and tension-induced deformation of mesh pores between corner-locked stitch patterns, and may be used to modulate compliance and enhance strength properties of a substrate into which they are sewn.

Abstract: A method of fabricating pattern composite fabric pieces by an automatic pattern fabric article piece processing machine is described. A composite fabric sheet is fed in the processing machine onto a conveyor having a permeable belt under which is provided a vacuum chamber to retain the fabric sheet stationary while a laser cutter effects a programmed job function. The machine forms seam allowance flaps for the composite fabric pattern piece. A stitching or ultrasonic bonding machine also forms seams. In a further stage, printed matter may be applied to the allowance flaps. Glue may also be applied to the flaps and labels to some of the pattern fabric pieces. By interconnecting the seam allowance flaps of different fabric pieces, in a specific order, a fabric material article is produced.

Abstract: A tufting machine has a needle bar for carrying a plurality of needles for reciprocating into and out of a base material. A sliding needle bar shift mechanism may shift the needle bar laterally according to a pattern. The needle bar is mounted for reciprocation and for lateral movement relative to the direction of reciprocation by a drive system including a first directional drive component having a foot secured to a respective push rod of the tufting machine and a second directional drive component connected to the shift mechanism. The first and second drive components will connect to the needle bar through linear bearings or bushings so that the motion of the needle bar in multiple different directions is controlled while permitting greater machine operating and needle bar shifting speeds.

Abstract: A collapsible hook hanger includes a hook having a lower end and a hanger body including a cross bar having a top wall. The hanger further includes a hook receiving body extending from the top wall of the cross bar. The hook receiving body has a hook receiving slot for receiving the hook. The hanger further includes an axle member disposed within the hook receiving body and having a hole that is in communication with the hook receiving slot for receiving and mating to the lower end of the hook. The hook is rotatable between a first upright position and a second folded position. The top wall of the cross bar includes a notch that receives the hook as it is rotated to the second folded position.

Abstract: A collapsible hook hanger includes a hook having a threaded end and a hanger body including a cross bar having a top edge. A hook receiving body extends from the top edge of the cross bar and is defined by a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. An inner surface of the first side wall includes a first recess that is located opposite a second recess formed in the second side wall. The hook receiving body has a hook receiving slot for receiving the hook. An axle member is rotatably disposed within each of the first and second recesses. The axle member includes a threaded bore that receives the threaded end of the hook which is securely coupled to the axle member. The axle member is captured between the first and second side walls while permitting free rotation of the axle member within the hook receiving body.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing portion, a processor, and a memory. The sewing portion is configured to sew a pattern on a sewing object. The memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the processes. The processes include the acquiring reference data representing a relative positional relationship between a sewing position and an arrangement position. The sewing position is a position of the pattern sewn on the sewing object by the sewing portion. The arrangement position is a position of a decorative component arranged on the sewing object. The processes include displaying, on the basis of the acquired reference data, a mark that indicates the arrangement position corresponding to the sewing position.

Abstract: A shift mechanism for a tufting machine for controlling the transverse, lateral shifting movement of a series of needles of the tufting machine across a backing material for forming a series of cut and/or loop pile tufts of yarns in the backing in accordance with a pattern. The shift mechanism will include a motor controlled rack and pinion shift control assembly having one or more pinions, each driven by a motor, that engage and drive a rack coupled to at least one needle bar of the tufting machine, for controlling the transverse shifting movement of the needles.

Abstract: A sewing machine that includes a sewing bed on which a plurality of cloth pieces are placed in a manner of being overlaid on each other; a felting needle; a woolen yarn guide provided at a lower end of a safety cover for covering the felting needle; and a device configured to raise and lower the felting needle toward the plurality of overlaid cloth pieces, and the woolen yarn guide is configured to guide a woolen yarn from a bobbin or a woolen yarn ball to a sewing location, and the device is configured to raise and lower the felting needle so that needle felting in which the felting needle is thrusted into the plurality of cloth pieces and the woolen yarn is performed, and thereby the plurality of cloth pieces are sewn together.

Abstract: A cloth clamping device includes a clamping mechanism that comes into contact with a cloth and an up-and-down movement mechanism that moves the clamping mechanism up and down. The clamping mechanism includes a support portion, a leg portion, a foot portion, and a clamping portion. The clamping portion has a leading end portion facing the foot portion in a sideway direction and a base end portion being pivotally supported by the support portion. When the leg portion is lowered with respect to the support portion, the leading end portion pivots downward and is positioned in a sideway direction with respect to the foot portion, and when the leg portion is raised with respect to the support portion, the clamping portion comes into contact with the upper surface of the cloth and the leading end portion is positioned above the foot portion, and the clamping mechanism draw up the cloth.

Abstract: A glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of gloves for packing into a box comprises a packing recess for receiving gloves to be stacked and for containing the stack as the stack is being formed, and a glove placement means for moving and depositing gloves at the recess one of top of another for forming the stack of gloves. The recess has a pair of opposite side edges. A movable floor within the recess is lowered as the stack of gloves grows whereby the stack of gloves continues to be retained within the recess as gloves are added to the stack. The glove placement means is arranged to deposit gloves with a portion of each glove overlapping alternately one or the other of the opposite side edges of the recess as subsequent gloves are deposited. The apparatus also comprises a pair of movable flaps adjacent the opposite side edges of the recess for folding alternately inwards towards the recess the portions of that gloves that overlap alternately one or another of the opposite side edges of the recess.

Abstract: Software converts a photographic image into realistic and customized embroidery. Software reads photographic image, down-sampling or up-sampling so that a single pixel has a Density, One Grayscale image is created to calculate derivatives for each pixel using Sobel operator to calculate angle and magnitude and stores in a Sobel table. One Color Image is created to materialize and reduce color selection. A series of polylines are calculated to connect same-color pixels using the pixel's angle from the Sobel table. Polylines are reduced to a manageable size first by multiplying all points by Density resulting in stitch data in physical units, and by using a series of rules and formulas involving angles and magnitudes of each pixel from the Sobel table, Commands are appended to an embroidery machine to generate the final embroidery.

Abstract: A multi-needle threader for use in weaving hair extensions. The threader has an “L” shaped body for holding at least one spool of thread in proximity to a plurality of needles held in pin cushions. The needles and pin cushions are positioned on the threader such that the needles can be threaded in a sequence or order continuously one needle to another until all are pre-threaded for use and then the needles can be used in reverse order without unthreading any unused needles.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for headwear including an eyewear retaining pocket. For example, the headwear may include a headwear body including a crown, a hat brim extending from the crown, and one or more slits disposed on a side panel of the crown, each slit providing access to a pocket formed in the side panel of the crown, the pocket including one or more strips of a retaining material coupled to an inner surface of the pocket.

Abstract: A textile machine adjustment method is provided. An operating speed of a textile machine within an operating range is set by a processor according to the basic information of the fabric. A motion image of the fabric and the vibration characteristics of the yarns are recorded by a video camera. The operating speed of the textile machine is adjusted at least once, and the vibration characteristics of the yarns is analyzed after each adjustment of the operating speed. Multiple correlation factor functions and the relative weights of the multiple factors related to the operating speed of the textile machine are recorded. The relative weights of the multiple factors are adjusted according to a yield quality of the fabric. When an expected value is met, the fabric continues to be produced at the current operating speed; otherwise, the relative weights of multiple factors are adjusted to correct the operating speed.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling and improving the consistency of yarn texture in a yarn system. The system and method are configured to monitor, improve and/or control the operating parameters of the yarn system. A plurality of sensors sense the operating conditions and send the sensed conditions to a processor. The processor and/or a user monitoring the system can make adjustments to the operating parameters in a parameter is outside of a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: Provided is an embroidery conversion device for an embroidery sewing machine including: a base-color setting unit configured to set a base color; a gradation-data generating unit configured to generate gradation data expressing shading for monotone embroidery, based on an embroidery color specified for each of the embroidery areas; a gradation shade-number setting unit configured to set a number of shades in gradation for monotone embroidery used in execution of monotone embroidery; a gradation-data converting unit configured to convert the gradation data generated by the gradation-data generating unit into working gradation data of the number of shades in gradation set by the gradation shade-number setting unit, and to set the working gradation data as the embroidery color display data; and a recording unit configured to collectively record the embroidery color display data specified for each of the embroidery areas and embroidery stitch data.